Trump picks Steven Cheung as White House communications director
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Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung speaking at a press conference in New York City in May 2024.
PHOTO: AFP
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WASHINGTON - President-elect Donald Trump announced on Nov 15 that he had chosen Mr Steven Cheung, his chief campaign spokesman, to be his White House communications director.
Mr Cheung, who once worked in communications for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, served in Trump’s administration as director of strategic response.
He will return to the White House in 2025 in a top communications position.
Trump has long favoured vocal, forceful allies, and his decision to elevate Mr Cheung is one of several recent announcements that reinforce that preference.
During the campaign, Mr Cheung often issued provocative, at times offensive, statements attacking Trump’s political enemies and the news media.
His most vicious barbs in written statements came during the Republican primaries, when he would frequently hurl personal attacks denigrating Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who was once Trump’s foremost Republican rival.
Mr Cheung, who frequently uses hypermasculine language favoured by many on the ultra-online right, seemed to take particular delight in questioning Mr DeSantis’ masculinity, calling him a “desperate eunuch” and once saying the governor walked like a girl who “discovered heels for the first time”.
Mr Cheung’s statements at times have provoked strong criticism from Democrats.
After Trump in 2023 likened his political enemies to “vermin” that needed to be rooted out, drawing condemnation from some liberals and historians for echoing the dehumanising rhetoric of fascist dictators, Mr Cheung stood firm and issued a scathing, violent retort.
Although Mr Cheung often travelled with Trump, he regularly ceded appearances on television news – which are viewed as crucial by Trump and his allies – to other members of the campaign’s communications team, including Ms Karoline Leavitt, the campaign’s press secretary, and Mr Jason Miller, a senior adviser.
On Nov 15, Trump also said he would ask Mr Sergio Gor, who has helped run the publishing company that produces Trump’s books
The office helps vet political appointees, and Mr Gor will likely play an important role in helping the President-elect, who cares deeply about whether prospective staff meet his standards for loyalty, fill positions.
“Steven Cheung and Sergio Gor have been trusted advisers since my first presidential campaign in 2016, and have continued to champion America First principles throughout my first term, all the way to our historic victory in 2024,” Trump said in a statement. NYTIMES
